Bottle-stopper



(No Model.) i

W. J. CUNNINGHAM. BOTTLE STOPPERIl Nmasysz. PatentedApr. 21, 1896.V

AN DREW BISRMMM4 PHOTD-UTHQWASNINGTOND C @raras armar FFICE.

BOTTLE- STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,782, dated April 21, 1896. Application led July 27, 1895. Serial No; 557,305. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bottle-Stoppers,which improvement is fully set forth in the following speciication and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a bottle-stopper having the stopper proper and the retainingbail thereof detachably connected, whereby said stopper may be primarily inserted into the mouth of a bottle without being accompanied by the bail, by which provision the stopper may be sealed by suitable machinery, or hand, if desired, after which the bail may be manipulated to engage said stopper and retain the same in position.

Figure l represents a top or plan view of a bottle-stopper embodying m yinvention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 represents a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 4L represents a side elevation of the stopper in position. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a detached portion thereof. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of a modification of the part shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a side elevation of a portion of another form of the invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the plug of a bottle-stopper, the same being formed as ordinarily of rubber.

B designates a thimble, which is provided at bottom with the flange C, which parts are embedded in the plug A and raised at top with the cap I), which is located over said plug.

E designates jaws, which are freely located within the thimble B and project partly above the cap D, they being connected at bottom by the base F, which imparts elasticity to said jaws, the parts being formed in the present case of a continuous piece of suitable wire, said base being located below the flange C and prevented from upward displacement thereby.

In Fig. G the jaws and ilange are formed of separate pieces E E of cast or wrought metal, without,however, producing different results,

` it being seen that in either case the jaws are separated at top and are bent laterally below the top, producing the groove G to receive the cross-bar II of the bail J, the latter being of well-known form.

It will be seen that the stopper and bail are primarily detached, and that when the bottle is filled the stopper is inserted into the mouth of the same, after which the bail is raised and the cross-bar located centrally over the jaws, and the bail is lowered, whereby said cross-bar enters between the jaws and separates the same until it enters the groove G, when the jaws close around said cross-bar, and the latter is seated on the cap D and presses downwardly on the same, thus holding the stopper firmly in position on the bottle.

The detachable stopper will be 'found serviceable in bottling soda-water and other aerated iiuids by machinery, as after filling a bottle part of the stopper may be engaged by a suitable plunger and the stopper then depressed, after which the bail may be manipulated to enter the jaws and thus be connected with the stopper for controlling the same.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A bottle-stopper consisting of a plug, a thimble with a iiange in said plug, anda cap over said plug, expansible jaws with a base in said plug below the flange of the said thimble and a bail adapted to be seated between said jaws, said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. A bottle-stopper consisting of a plug, a thimble secured therein and having a cap thereon, elastic jaws secured in said thimble and a bail adapted to be seated in said jaws, said parts being combined substantially as described.

3. In a bottle-stopper, an elastic plug, a thimble held in said plug, and elastic jaws having grooves in their upper end, said jaws being secured in said thimble, said parts belng combined substantially as described.

WILLIAM J. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses JOHN A. Winnnasumn, R. H. GRAESER. 

